A man who was left paralysed after contracting an infection during spinal surgery has received over £2,000,000 in compensation to fund a life time of care.
After being diagnosed with a chronic degenerative spinal condition, David was admitted to hospital to undergo an operation to remove a vertebra from his neck. Unfortunately, as a result of the operation David developed an infection which meant he required a second operation.
During the second operation, David suffered an injury to his spinal cord, which left him almost completely paralysed. Investigations showed that that the injury David suffered was a rare but unavoidable risk of the second operation. However, it was proved that David's neurosurgeons were negligent in failing to give him antibiotics at the time of his first operation. If this had been done, he would not have developed the infection; would not have required another operation; and would not have suffered his injury.
As a result of the injury sustained in the operation, David was unable to care for himself and his disabled wife so he was forced to move into a nursing home. The nursing home was some distance from his home and therefore his wife was unable to make regular visits to see him due to ill health.
The hospital trust finally admitted liability for David’s injuries after court proceedings were initiated. An initial offer of £150,000 was proposed by the defendants, as they argued that David was not well enough to be cared for in his own home and should remain in the nursing home for the rest of his life, with his wife only able to visit him from time to time.
However, with thanks to Irwin Mitchell solicitors, an out of court settlement was reached which will mean David will now receive a combination of a lump sum payment and annual periodical payments, of more than £2,000,000.
This money will allow David to buy a single storey house, which he can have adapted to suit his needs; and to employ full-time carers to look after him. He will now be able to live with his wife again after over 5 years of living apart.
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